Hurricane Preparedness Tips
As hurricane season quickly approaches, it is important to be prepared if and when a disaster strikes. All of us who live in South Florida know the threats and dangers associated with these devastating storms. When disaster strikes, there is often little time to think, so it’s important to have a plan in place for yourself and your family…including your pets!
Tips for Pet Parents:
- Never leave your pet home alone or outside. The safest place for your pet is with you! Left alone, your pet may be subject to injuries from structural damage, flooding, and excessive heat after the storm. Remember…friends don’t leave friends behind!
- Equip all pets with a collar and identification tag containing visible and accurate information in case you become separated from your pet. Microchipped pets have a much better chance of being reunited with their owners but also be sure that your contact information is correct with the microchip company.
- Practice a shelter-in-place run-through, including introducing your pet to the “safe room” you will take shelter in during the storm. For example, don’t let the actual hurricane be the first time your dog or cat spends time in the walk-in closet or downstairs bathroom.
- During the hurricane drill, introduce your pet’s everyday activities in the safe room to increase maximum comfort later. Try everything – placing animals in their carriers, have them eat and drink in this room, etc.
- Create a list of pet-friendly shelters nearby, including a list of hotels that allow pets and keep it in a safe place for easy access as a storm approaches.
- Be sure all pets are up-to-date with vaccines and keep records with you in a waterproof container.
- Have photos taken of you with your pets and keep these photos in a safe, readily available place, like a wallet or purse, for identification purposes.
- Create a pet emergency kit with supplies that are restocked every few months. Download our hurricane preparedness checklist below for everything that should be included.
- Keep your go-bag and pet carrier in an easy to grab location . We recommend hard carriers or crates for your furry family members because they are more resilient than the soft carriers during an emergency.
Download our hurricane preparedness checklist!
We encourage you to download our hurricane preparedness checklist for important tips for pet parents.
Find a pet-friendly hurricane shelter
The only pet-friendly shelter available in Palm Beach County at this time is located at the West Boynton Recreational Center in Lake Worth. Pre-registration is required.
